Multi-contact connector



Oct. 11, 1960 E. A. BENNETT 2,956,260

MULTI-CONTACT CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 3, 1957 2 2 izi rzw 1/ i Z9 INVENTOR. 5% EdwamA 39012217 $5 '3 BY f) I ATTORNEY.

2,956,260 MULTI-CONTACT CONNECTOR Edward A. Bennett, Haddonfield, N .J assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. '3, 1957, Ser. No. 681,521-

Claims. (Cl. 3'39-176) This invention relates to a multi-contact connector, and more particularly to a multi-contact connector adapted for use with printed circuits in miniature circuit assemblies.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved miniature multi-contact connector adapted for use with printed circuits.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved multi-contact connector having mating members including identical structural parts for economy of manufacture.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved miniature multi-contact connector in which good electrical connection between contacts is reliably maintained.

'A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved miniature multi-contact connector containing a large number of well insulated contacts in a relatively I small space.

A connector, in which the above objects are realized, 7

comprises two mating members including identical parts of insulating material. Each of the parts comprises a strip having a substantially rectangular base and a substantially rectangular contact supporting rib which is' an extension of one side of the base. The base and rib define a substantially L-shaped. cross section. Spring metal contacts are supported on the parts in transverse planes and are exposed on the inner faces of the ribs. The exposed portions of the contacts are supported for.

engagement with similarly supported contacts, on the mating connector member. part extend through the base thereof for connection to a printed circuit board or' other member on which the connector members are mounted.

A metallic shell completely encloses the partfor one connector member with the exception of the face oppo- A metallic shell encloses the base site from the base. of the part for the other connector portion. In the one connector member, a recess is formed by the shell and the contact supporting rib for receiving the contact supporting rib of the other connector member. When the two connector members are assembled, the two shells Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 5 of Figure 2 in the direction of the appended arrows;

Figure 4 is a side view, partially broken away, of a second connector member;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 Portions of the contacts in each ,0 I, A 2,956,260 fig Patented Oct. 11, 1960 of Figure 4'in the direction of the'appended arrows; and a Figure 6 is a sectional view of the first and second connector members in mating relationship.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawing, an illustrative embodiment of a connector assembly comprises a first or socket connector member 11, shown in Figures 2 and 3, and a second or plug connector member 13 shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Each connector member includes a molded part 15, a plurality of contacts 29 supported on said part, an enclosing shell 33 or 39 and insulating lining strip 37. The parts 15 are identical for each connector member and may be cast from an insulating material such as mica filled phenolic. The parts are cast in elongated strips having a substantially rectangular base 17 and a rib 19 which defines a contact supporting portion. The base 17 is adapted to lie adjacent to a printed circuit board 21 or 22 upon which the connector members are mounted in a manner to be described. The contact supporting rib 19 is an extension of one face of the ,base 17 and lies in a plane perpendicular to the printed circuit board. The base 17 and contact supporting rib 19 define a substantially L-shaped cross section for the form 15. The faces of the base 17 and rib 19, which are common, will be referred to as the rear or outer faces. The opposite face of the rib will be referred to as the front or inner face. The faces of the part 15 oppOsite from the face adapted to lie adjacent to a printed circuit board 21 will be referred to as upper faces.

A row of holes 23 is provided in the part 15, the holes extending through the base 17 substantially in the plane of theinner face of the rib 19. The part is further provided with grooves 25 which lie in the rear face of the form and extend over the upper edge of the rib. The grooves and the holes lie in transverse planes of the part 15, which maybe spaced on one tenth inch centers,

for example, along the length of the part. Each locating plane defines the position of one groove 25 and one hole 23. A corner groove 27 is provided in the base, adjacent to the rear face of the part 15 and extends the length of the part.

The part 15 supports a plurality of flat spring metal contact strips 29 which may be made from a metal such I as beryllium copper, suitably plated. As viewed from one end of a connector member, these contacts are generally in the shape of a U. The terminal end of a contact 29 extends through a hole 23, in the base 17 of the part, and'protrudes from the base for connection to a printed circuit board. The contact extends, from the upper face of the base, adjacent to the front face of the rib 19. This portion of the contact, which is adapted to engage a similar contact on a mating connector member, is bowed away from the inner face to provide contact pressure when the connector members are engaged.

The contact is then formed over the rib 19 and lies in a groove 25 in the upper and rear faces of the rib and the part 15. The end of the contact, opposite from the terminal end, is formed to provide a clip 31 which engages the groove 27. By means of the clip 31, the con tact is held relatively rigid on the form 15 without other supporting means.

Each connector part 15, with its associated contacts 29, is partially'enclosed by a shell, which is made of brass for example. In the case of the first or socket connector member 11(Figures 2 and 3), a shell 33 is rectangular and has one open face. The base of the shell 33, which is opposite from the open face, is provided with a longi I tudinal slot 35. The part 15 of the first connector meniher is positioned in the shell 33 so that the terminal ends of the contacts 29 extend through the slot 35 and pro-v trade from the baseof the shell. The shell is sufficiently deep so that the part-15 is entirelyenclosed within the is-then rigidly. joined to a p'rintedcircuit board. 1

'placedalong the, two opposite sides of the shell 33 to insulate the shell from 'thepart 15 and itsassociated con- 5 tacts. The assembly of thepart ;theshel l33; and-the insulating strips '-37"is' held together-1hr suitably" placedrivets 38;for examples- 7 I v Inthe case of the second or socket' connector member 13"(Fi'gures 4 and 5), 'a similarshell'39 is provided. 3 The iO shell 39, however, is not'as deep as'the .shell' 33 and-em closes only the base 17 of its associated part 15, hence exposing the rib 19 and portions of the contacts 29;:

Inf each of the-connector members,'thecontact clipsfil are confined 'within the longitudinal groove 27'by-theyil5 respective shells and insulating "strips, The P rtions of the, contacts. adjacent to the clips 31 are confined Within. the. grooves 27' by the'respective' shells, anduinsulating, strips. This "confinement of the contacts, in addition to the confinement provided by the holes 23, provides for. a 0 relatively rigid securing of the contacts to the parts 15as well. as accurate longitudinal placement of the contacts j with respect to the parts 15. 7

Referring .now particularly to Figure 6, it will be seen 1 that a recess 41 is formed in the first connector member 11, into which the rib 19 ofthe second connector memv ber 13.is received. When thefirst' and second connector members are engaged as shown, the bowed portions, of the contacts 2 engaged each otherin reliable electrical andmechanical contact. It willfurtherbe notedthat, when the connector members are engaged, the shells 33. and 39 provide a complete, shield for the connectonas-R sembly. Hence, electrical shieldingfor the connector is provided if the shields 33 and 39 are metallic.

Eachof the connector members lltand 13. is securedl to a printed circuitboardZL or '22 by-means of. the. ter.. minal ends 'ofthe contacts 29, which extend through holes 43 provided in the printed-circuit boards. The printed circuit boards are single sided boards and the'connector. members are mounted on the faces of theboardsoppm. site. from the faces provided withthe printed conductors 45,.. The terminal ends of the contacts may be-bentover 7 to lie against the printed conductorson the boardandthe. contacts may then be soldered to the board by any ofthe well known techniques." Each of the connector-members 4 Referringnow particularly to-Figure 1, an end view of. a circuit structure 51, including the above described connector members, is shown. .A housing 53 for the circuit v structure is shown partially broken away. Thejillustrated circuit structure includes the complete circuitry for a a transmitter and receiver. gThe outside'end dimensions of the housinggas illustratedin Figure l, are approximately '55 is shown; in full 'lines,;in position to be'inserted into theic-ircuit structure. The module 57 is shoWn,-in dotted lines, in its assembled position; In this positionthecom nector members are, engaged .asshown :in :Figure 6.,-

t Aslto thedimensions of'thejconnector members themselves}. in the illustrated circuitstructure,; the overall '70 heighth 10f. :each co'nnector member is approximately three eigiithssincli and thejoverall ithickness is approximatelyi:threelsixteenthsrinch; .Tbeab'ove dimensions; are indicated to :eniphasize'the mailiSiZe'Dfthi connector membersari Thezt lengthanfrthe iconnector, members-As '4 slightly less than the length of the circuit structure. Thirty-four individual contacts are provided in each connector member.

There has been described a connector assembly including mating connector members of extremely small size and providing reliable electrical contact. The parts 15 of the two connector members are of identical structure providing for economy of manufacture. Similarly, the contacts 29 of both connector members are identical. The connector members comprise a novel structure which includes enclosing shells -'-to provide complete electrical shielding of the assemblywhen the connector members are engaged with each'other.

What is claimedis:

l. A connector memberfor cooperation with a mating connector member provided with a contact, said firstnamed connector member comprising a contact supporting part oftinsulating material, said part having an 'L-shaped cross section defined by a base portion'and a rib portion, said'rib portion having an outer face andan inner face and said base portion being formed with a a hole, a spring metal contact supported over said outer and inner faces of said rib portion and extending-through said hole in said base portion toprovide a terminal for said contact, an open faced shell at least partiallyenclos ing said part and confining said'contact at said outer face of said rib portion, and means insulating said shell from' said contact the portion of said contact lying adjacent to said, inner face of said rib portion being adaptedfor en gagement withsaid contact of. said mating connector member.

'2. A multi-contact connector member comprising an fining'said contacts at said outer face of said rib portion,

means insulating said shell from said contacts, said shell and the inner faceof said'rib. portion defining a recess dimensionedto receive a mating connector member, and j the portions of said contacts lying adjacent to said inner face'of said rib portionbeing adapted for engagement with respective cont-acts ofsaid mating. ,connectormember. 1

3(Ainulti-contaet connector member comprising" an; elongated contact supporting'part of.insulating material, I

said part'having anL-shapedcross section'defined bya base portion and a rib portion, saidrib portion having an outer face and an inner face and said base portion beingformed'vw'th a hole, a plurality of spring metal contacts supported over said outer and inner faces of said rib portion and extending through .said hole in said base por-- tion for connection to a supporting member saidrib portion having means for positioning. said contacts in spaced relation, an open faced shell enclosing said partvand confining said'contacts atthe outer faceof said rib portion, means insulating said-shellfrom said:contacts, said shell and said inner faceof said ribportiondefining ia socket,

recessndimensioned to receive a :contact' supportingportion of a mating connector member; andtheportionsof said contacts lying adjacent to said inner face ofsaid rib portion being adapted for engagement with: respectiv contacts of said mating connector member;

. 4; A connector member-comprisinga contact supporting part of insulating material, said part having an:

'L-shaped'cross section defined by a base portiomandta portion, saidrib portion having an outer face andganinner; faceand said baseportionbeing formed-with n hole, a spring metal contact supported inspaped elationa over :said? jouterand, inner: faces of saidxib portion: and

dimentioned to be inserted in a mating connector member also having a contact, and the portions of said contact lying ad acent to the inner face of said rib portion being adapted for engagement with the contact of said mating connector member.

5. A multi-contact connector comprising a pair of,

contacts supported in spaced relation therealong over said outer and inner faces of said rib portion thereof and extending through said holes in said base portion thereof to define terminals for said contacts, a first open faced rectangular shell enclosing the base portion of one of said connector members and confining said supported contacts thereon atthe outer faces of said rib portion thereof while leaving said rib portion unenclosed, means insulating said shell from said contacts, a second open faced shell enclosing said contact supporting part of the other of said connector members and providing a recess between said second shell and the inner face of said rib portion of said other contact supporting part, said recess being dimensioned to receive the unenclosed rib portion of said first connector "member in a manner such-that said inner faces of said rib portions oppose each other and said contacts of both said rib portions are disposed for mating engagement.

6. A multi-contact connector comprising a pair of mating connector members, each said member including identical contact supporting parts, each part being com-' prised of insulating material having an L-shaped cross section, said part being adapted to interlock with a mating contact supporting part, said part cross section being defined by a base portion by means of which a connector member is supported and a rib portion extending from said base, said rib portion having an outer and inner face and said base portion having a plurality of holes extending therethrough terminating adjacent to the inner face of said rib portion, each said member also including a plurality of spring metal contacts formed over the inner and outer faces of said rib portion thereof, said contacts extending through and protruding from said holes in said base portion thereof to provide terminals for said contacts, and said mating connector members also including open faced shells, said contacts being insulated from the shells, said shells each having openings therein in alignment with said base portion openings and through which said contact terminals protrude from said base portions, one of said shells for a first of said connector members substantially enclosing the contact supporting part of said first connector member, and the other of said shells for the second of said connector members enclosing the base portion of said second connector member, the shell and contact supporting part of said first connector member providing a recess for receiving the rib of said second connector member, and said inner faces of said ribs lying adjacent to each other when said connector members are in mating relation whereby the contacts of said first connector member engage the respective contacts of said second connector member.

7. A multi-contact connector comprising a pair of mating connector members, each of said members including a contact supporting part and a shell therefor, each said part being comprised of insulating material having an L-shaped cross section defined by a base portion and a rib portion, said rib portion having a front face and-a rear face, said rear face being defined by said base and rib portions, said base portion having a plurality of holes aligned with the front face of said rib portion, and each of said members also including a plurality of spring metal contacts extending through said holes and formed over said rib portion adjacent to the front and rear faces thereof, said contacts protruding from said base portion to form terminals for said contacts, one of said shells enclosing a first of said connector members to provide a socket connector member, and the other of said shells enclosing the base portion of a second of said connector members to provide a plug connector member, said shells each having openings therein for the terminal ends of said contacts, said shell and rib portion of said socket connector member providing a recess for receiving the exposed rib-portion of said plug connector member, said shells being insulated from said contacts, and said socket and plug connector members being adapted to be engaged in mating relation and to be interlocked whereby the contacts of said first connector member engage the respective contacts of said second connector member. a

8. A multi-contact connector comprising a pair of connector members, each of said connector members including a contact supporting part, each said part being com-prised of insulating material having a base portion and a rib portion, said rib portion having a front and 7 rear face, said base and rib portions defining an L-shaped cross section, said part having a rear face defined by said base and rib portions, said rear face having a plurality of transverse grooves therealong, said base portion being provided with a plurality of holes aligned with the front face of said rib portion, said holes lying in a transverse plane defined by said grooves, and each said connector member also including a plurality of spring metal contacts, one disposed in each of said grooves and formed around said rib portion to extend through one of said holes, and each of said connector members also including an open faced shell, one of said shells enclosing said contact supporting part of a first of said connector members, the other of said shells enclosing the base portion of the second of said connector members, said shells having openings therein in alignment with said base portion openings and through which said contact terminals protrude from said base portions, said shell and said rib portion of said first connector member providing a recess for receiving the exposed rib portion of said second connector member, said shells being insulated from said contacts, and said contacts of said first and second connector members being spaced for mating engagement whereby the contacts of said first connector member engage the respective contacts of said second connector member.

9. A multi-contact connector comprising a pair of matting connector members, each member including identical contact supporting parts, each said part being comprised of insulating material having an L-shaped cross section v and being adapted to interlock with a mating connector member part, each said part being defined by a base portion by means of which the connector member of which it is a part is supported and a rib portion having an inner and an outer face, the inner face of said rib portion intersecting the base portion, said base portion having a plurality of holes extending therethrough and terminating adjacent to the inner face of said rib portion, each said connector member also including a plurality of spring metal contacts formed over said rib portion thereof adjacent to the inner and outer faces thereof, said contacts extending through and protruding from said holes in said base portion to provide terminals for said contacts, the portion of said contacts lying adjacent to the inner face of said rib portion being bowed away from said face and providing the'contacting portions of said contacts, and each connector member also including 7 7 an open faced, rectangular shell, saidshells each having openings in the face opposite from itsopen face for said contact terminals of each connector member, said shells confiningjheportions of saidjcontacts-lyingadjacent to 3 thelouter face of said r-ib portion of each connector member and insulating them therefrom; one of said rectangular shells fora first of said connector members enclosing the contactv'supporting part thereof, andthe other of said rectangularshellsfor the second of said connector membersienclosingthe. base portion of said second connector member, said part andrshell of said first connector memher-providing a recess for receiving the exposed rib of said second connector member, and said inner faces of saidv rib portionsrlying' adjacent to each other when said connector members are in mating relationwherebythe contactsQoLsiaid'first connector member engage the respectivelcontacts of said second'connector member.

l0. Aimulti-contact connector comprising a pair of matingconneictormembersl, each of said connector membersincluding a contact supporting part, a pluralityqof fiattspringimetal contacts, and an open faced shell,said

supportingpart comprising a base portion. anda rib portion extending beyond said base, said part having a rear-face. defined by said base and rib portions, said rear face .being provided with a pluralityof transverse grooves,,said base portion being tprovidedhwith a pl}1 rality; of holes alignedl withthefront face of saidfr'ib portion,- said holes each bein glaligned in a common transverse plane with a different. one of. said grooves, saidl rear face of saidbase portion having a longitudinal groove said contacts eachhavingja clip endwand a teri minal end,-said contacts being disposed on said contact supporting partwith the clip ends thereof engaging said longitudinal grooves and said terminal .ends .thereofpro-ltruding from said base portion, the intermediate portion of said contactslying' in said transversegrooves: and being formed *over said -inner;rib portion/to extend through said holes, portionsmfs'aid contacts being bowed to'extend away. from'theifront face-of said rib portion;

'said shellshaving openings in the face opposite from the open face thereof, said terminal ends of ,said contacts protrudingthrough said shell openings opposite from-said open face, an insulating strip disposed between said contacts and said shells to insulate. said contacts from said shells; one of said shells enclosing the base'and rib portions of a first of said connector members to ,provide a socket connector member, the other of said shells enclosing onlythe'base portion of the second of said con-V References Cited inthe iile of this patent .UNITED STATES, PATENTS v Henck Sept. 18, .1894- 526;07s 2,222,953 t Nomann Nov. 26,. 1940 2,730,683] Ayres-et al. Janh10, 1956 f FOREIGN PATENTS 4.

657,380: Germany Mar. 3,1933 1,042,463,. France V Nov. 2, 1953' 

